Stump-extracting machine



May 20, 1924. 1,494,580

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F. BRANDT STUMP EXTRACTING MACHINE May 20,1924 1,494.580

Filed March a. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet May 20, 1924. 1,494,580

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Patented May 20, 1924.

ran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOKKO BRANDT, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

STUMlf-EXTRAOTING MACHINE.

Application-filed March 8 1920. Serial No. 364,094.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, FoKKo BRANDT, a citizen of the Republic of Grermany, and resident of Kansas City, county of Wyandotte, State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stump- Extracting Machines, of which the following is a complete specification.

his invention relates to tractor stump machine of this character provided with equipment for pulling'small stumps and for lifting them from the ground if necessary and for dragging them to any point desired.

More specifically, my object is to produce a machine having a hydraulic lift which will exert tremendous lifting. power, and in addition thereto other hydraulic lifts provided with levers whereby the auxiliary lifts shall be capable of performing theirwork expeditiously and exerting a pulling or lifting strain over a greater range of movement than would otherwise be possible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tractor in which the motor opcrates a pump for the operation of the hydraulic lift. and means also operated by the motor for effecting the swinging of the main lift to an inclined position to enable the machine to pass under low bridges and the like.

Another object is to provide the machine with winding drums also actuated from the motor, for the purpose of drawing a stump, log or other object up to the machine when the latter is stationary.

With these general objects in view and others of a secondarycharacter as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tractor stump pulling machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line IVIV, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line V-V of Figure 4; 3

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line VL-VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a central vertical section through the steering drum and adjacent parts of the machine; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings where similar reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 and 2 indicate the inner and outer side rails of the machine frames, the rear end of the adjacent rails 1 and 2 being connected by plates 3. The front end of said rails are connected by frontrails 4, the latter projecting inwardly beyond the inner rails and being connected to the rear end of forwardly projecting rails 5 which in turn are connected at their front end by a front rail 6. The rails 4 and 5 are braced by inclined rails 7. At the rear end of the machine a cross brace 8 connects rails 1.

The frame is made portable by mounting it upon a rolling support of the type shown or any other suitable type, which affords a substantial or extended bearing contact with the ground, particularly when the same is soft, to avoid embedment therein when subjected to tremendous downward pressure incidental to the extraction of large tree stumps or the lifting of heavy weights, and it is also desirable that such rolling support shall be susceptible of being driven by a motor on the frame. The frame is provided with bearings 14 for alined cross shafts 15, for service as hereinafter mentioned.

The hydraulic lift mechanism is con caps at opposite sides of standards 55, and standards 56 are connected together by horizontal channel beams 60. The said standards and 56 carry rearwardly projecting pins 57 from which are suspended tubes 58 provided with internal collars 59 at their lower ends (See Figure 4.) The standards 56 are connected by cross beams 60 so that both pistons shall move upwardly and downwardly together. The cross beams 60 are connected together at suitable points by blocks 61. and suspended from said blocks are chains 61 adapted to be fastened in any suitable or preferred manner to the tree stump to be pulled or to any other ob ect t is desirous to lift by means of the hydraulic lift.

Each cylinder 51 is closed at its bottom as at 62 and provided with depending arms 63 pivotally engaging the adjacent shaft 15 between the hangers 14, so that the 11ft may be swung downward to the inclined pos tlon shown by Figure 2, as hereinafter explalned. It will be noticed by reference to Figure 5 that one of the arms 63 of the corresponding cylinder 51 is provided with an opening 64 for the reception of a locking pin 65 provided at its outer end with a handle 66. Said ,pin engages an opening 67 inthe adjacent rail 2 of the frame, and is limited in its inward movement by the engagement of the handle 66 with the outer end of a cylinder 68 secured to said rail 2, it being noted by reference to Figure 6 that the outer end of the cylinder '68 is provided with notches 68 wherein the handle may fit whenturned a quarter revolution. Each pin is providednear its inner end with an enlargement 69, and a spring 70 encircles the stem and bears against said enlargement and the outer end of the cylinder and therefore tends to force said pin inwardly into engagement with the opening 64 of the depending arm of cylinder 51. When the machine is performing service the locking pin will be in the position shown by Figure 6 so as to oppose any tendency of the lift to swing forward or rearward.

\Vhen it is desired to lower the lift for travel upon the roadway, the pins 66 will be drawn outward to disengage them from the arm 63, and then turned at right angles to such position so that they shall engage the outer ends of cylinders 68 and thus be held from reengagement with the said openings. Each piston 53 is closed by a head 71 at its lower end provided with a cup leather 72 of common type, and near the lower end ofeach cylinder 51 is provided a port 73 controlled by a yieldingly closed valve 74 connected to a rock lever 75 fulcrumed on and between a pair of lugs 7 6 depending from the bottom of the said cylinder 51, the opposite end of said lever being connected to the lower, end of a rod 77 extendin up into the tube 58 and being provided wlthin said tube with a head 7 7, the function of which will herein after appear. The cylinder chambers below the pistons are connected to water supply pipes 78 connected at their front ends to a valve controlled discharge pipe 79 of a pump mechanism 80 mounted upon and as hereinafter explained to not only propel the machine but also to effect movement of all the operatlve parts thereof. 'A hand clutch 87 of conventional type is arranged to make the pulley 84 fast to the drivlng shaft when it is desired to drive the pump or any other machinery, it being noted that abelt for the operation of other machinery can be readily led from the pulley 84 because the same occupies -a position in a lower 7 plane'than the pump pulley 82.

As-thus far described it will be apparent that when the pump is in operation, water can be forced through pipes 78 and against the cup washer 72 and thereby raise the pistons, and when the latter have attained their upward limit of movement 'the collars 59 of tubes 58, strike the heads or enlargements 77 of rods 77, and thus rock the levers .75 and unseat the valves 74. As this occurs water supplied by the pump to the lower end of the cylinders, passes off through ports 73 and pipes 78 to the tank, leaving the pistons elevated at the points attained when the tripping of the valves occurred, but incapable of being raised to a higher plane by the pump. By the control of the valve '79, the-lifting action of the lift can be arrested immediately at any desired point, and .to lower the pistons, the water is ermitted to flow back from the cylin ers through the pump to, the tank.

To tilt the lift to the position indicated by dotted line and to return it to upright position, the following mechanism is provided. 88 are bearing brackets mounted upon the rails 1 and 2 and journaled upon and between said brackets are grooved sheaves 89. A transverse shaft 90 is journaled in brackets 91 mounted upon rails 1 and 2 near their front end, and secured upon said shaft 90 are double ended drums 92. Around each drum a cable 93 is wound a number of times, one end of each cable being attached to lugs 94 mounted on the cylinders 51. The other ends of said cables engage the sheaves 89 and then extend up to and are attached to the same lugs. The cables thus form in side view trrangular figures, the front portions of the cables tending to brace the lift against rearward swingin movement, and the rear portions of the ca les tending to prevent forward swinging movement of the said lift, it being understood that these cables are preferably of metal so that they shall be capable of maintaining the lift in a vertical position under.

any ordinary service required of them. When the shaft is stationary, it will be apparent that the rear cables will guard as effectively against forward swinging movement of the lift as if they were rigidly attached to the latter, this being due to the fact that the lift tends to swing in a plane intersecting that on which said portions of the cables will swing. The same statement applies of course with respect to the front portions of said cables. In very heavy work the locking pins 66 may also be employed to assist the cables in holding the lift in vertical position, espe cially if the lift exerted is not exactly vertical as will frequently occur due to failure to stop the machine with the transverse beams or cross bars 52 squarely over the stump or the object to be lifted.

It may frequently happen that the main lifting mechanism described is incapable of lifting a stump completely out of the ground due to the fact that the root thereof may be of considerable length, especially trees hav ing tap roots. In this event the auxiliary lifting mechanisms will be found useful, as they can be connected to the loosened trunk and exert sufiicient lifting power to completely dislodge the roots, or while they are attached to the stump the machine may be driven and thus drag the stump laterally and complete its uprooting. These auxiliary lifting devices are designed admirably for more quickly uprooting small stumps than is possible by means of the main lifting mechanism so that the work of extracting stumps may be facilitated by the use of the small lifting devices instead of the large one. As will hereinafter appear each of these small or auxiliary lifting devices may extract a small stump simultaneously, or both may be-coupled to the same stum for the purpose of extracting the same. eferring particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that a bearing bracket is swiveled in each bracket 3 at the rear end of the machine, each bracket 95 being equipped with a cylinder 96, and pivoted to each cylinder is a lifting lever 98 equipped at its outer or free end with a grappling hook 99. Each cylinder 96, like cylinders 51. is provided at its lower end with a closed bottom having a port 100 normally controlled by a yieldingly closed valve 101 connected to a rock lever 102. A drain or discharge port for the cylortions of said i inder is indicated at 105, and a supply pipe 103, the latter pipe being connected to valve controlled branch pipes 104 leading from the valve controlled PIPGS 79 between the valve of the latter and the pump. The drain pipe 105 leads to the tank 81, as shown clearly in Figure 8, which figure it will be noted is diagrammatic for a clearer showin of the arrangement of the water pipes, it being understood that said pipes in practice will be suitably secured in the channels of the frame bars of the machine.

106 are hollow pistons mounted in the cylinders '96 and provided at their lower ends with cup washers 107 and at their upper ends with rigid yokes 108 within which are journaled grooved sheaves 109, the shaft of the sheaves being extended to form support for depending tubes 111 having internal collars 112 at their lower ends. Rods 113 extend slidingly through said collars and are provided with heads 114 at their upper ends and are pivotally connected at thelr lower ends to the rock levers 102. From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the proper valves are open, water will enter the cylinders 96 and force the pistons 106 upward until the collars 112 of tubes 111, strike th head 114 and thus through the connections described unseat the valves 101. When this occurs the upward movement of the pistons isarrested, as the water from the pump passes through ports 101 and pipes 103 to the tank, and when it is desired to lower the pistons, the Water is permitted to flow back from the cylinder through the pump to the tank,

Cables 115 are fitted over the sheaves 109. At their ends they are secured as at 116 to the rear or bifurcated ends of the levers 98, extending through grooves in said ends which are curved as indicated at 117. Between the sheaves 109 and said levers, the cables are looped under and engage guide sheaves 118 mounted on the cylinders 96. By this arrangement it will be apparent that when the pistons are moved upward, the levers are rocked upward at their outer ends.

Connecting each beam 1 at its front end with the inner ends of the adjacent frame beams 4 and 5, are alined housings 119 for the dilferential shaft members 120, geared to the driving shaft 85 by mechanism common in motor car and motor truck construction and therefore not detailed. To operate 9 idly together above the frame, lifting tackle suspended from the cross-bar between the lifts, rotatable guides mounted on the sides of the frame forward and rearward of the lifts, cables engaging the rotatable guides,

at corresponding sides of the frame and converging upwardly therefrom and attached at their extremities to the respectlve lifts, and means to operate the cables to swing the lifts to an inclined position and back to a vertical position.

2. A tractor stump pulling machine, co1 nprising a wheeled frame open between its sides, a pair of opposite vertical extenslble lifts pivotally mounted'on the sides of the frame, a cross-bar connecting the lifts, tackle mechanism suspended from the cross-bar between the lifts, rotatable guides mounted on the sides of the frame forward and rearward of the lifts, cables engaging the rotatable guides at corresponding sides of the frame and converging upwardly therefrom and attached at'their extremities to the respective lifts, means to operate cables to swing the lifts to an inclined position and back to a vertical position, and means to lock-the lifts in vertical or operative position.

3. A tractor stump pulling machine, comprising a wheeled frame, a lift pivoted thereon, sets of winding drums and sheaves at opposite sides of' the pivotal point of the lift, cables attached 'at their ends to the lift and each engaging one of the drums and sheaves and means actuated by the motor of the tractor for revolving the drum to tilt the lift or move it from a tilted to an upright position. v

4. A tractor stump pulling machine comprising a frame,-a pair of vertical lifts pivotally mounted on the frame, a cross-bar rigidly connecting the lifts, tackle mechanismssuspended from the cross-bar, rotary guides at opposite sides of the vertical plane of the pivotal points of the lifts, cables engaging the guides and extending convergingly upward and attached at their upper ends to the lifts at points nearer to the ivotal points of the latter when vertical, t an to the guides, to constitute checks against accidental pivotal movement to the lifts,

' nature.

and means to impart travel to the cables to tilt the lifts or return them from a tilted to upright position.

5. A tractor stump pulling machine comprising a frame, a pair of vertical lifts pivotally mounted on the frame, a cross-bar rigidly connecting the lifts, tackle mechanism suspended from the cross-bar, rotary guides at opposite sides of the vertical plane of the pivotal points of the lifts, cables engaging the guides and extending convergin'gly upward and attached at their upper ends to the lifts at points nearer to the pivotal points of the latter when vertical, than to the guides, to constitute checks against accidental pivotal movement of the lifts, means to impart travel to the cables to tilt the lifts or return them from a tilted to upright position, and auxiliary means to lock the lifts rigid to the frame.

6. In a tractor stump pulling machine, a pair of rigidly connected cylinders secured to the respective sides of the frame of the machine, and provided with water inlets and drain ports, yieldingly closed valves for the drain ports, pistons fitting in and connected together above the cylinders, lifting tackle suspended from the connection of and between the pistons, means to force 'liquid through the inlet ports into the cylinders, and means actuated by upward movement of the pistons, for unseating said valves for retaining the pistons in elevated position.

7. In a tractor stump pulling machine, a pair of rigidly connected cylinders secured to the respective sides of the frame of the machine and provided with water inlet and drain ports, yleldingly closed valves for the drain ports, pistons fitting in and connected together above the cylinders, lifting tackle suspended from the connection of the pistons, a tank, and pumping mechanism operated by the motor of the tractor, to force liquid from'the tank through said inlet port into the lower end of the cylinders to raise the pistons.

8. In a tractor stump pulling machine, a pair of rigidly connected cylinders, secured to the respective sides of the frame of the machine and provided with water inlet and drain ports, yieldingly closed valves for the drain ports, pistons fitting in and connected together above the cylinders, lifting tackle suspended from the connection between the pistons, a tank, pumping mechanism operated by the motor of the tractor, to force liquid from the tank through said inlet ports into the lower end of the cylinders to raise the pistons, and means actuated by upward movementof the pistons, to unseat said valves for retaining the pistons in elevated position.

In witness whereof I hereto afiix my sig- FOKKO BRANDT. 

